By SUNDAY ABBA, Abuja
For the umpteenth time the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) loses electric towers to vandalism.
The transmission company, in a statement issued Thursday evening, signed by Ndidi Mbah, the GM, Public Affairs, said two towers, T98 and T99 along the Ahoada/Yenagoa 132kV line which were vandalised on 29 July, 2024, in the Igbooghene community of Bayelsa state, collapsed.
“This incident caused the collapse of both towers, cutting off power supply to Bayelsa State, including TCN’s Yenagoa sub-station and the Gbarain Power Station. Presently, Yenagoa Metropolis and the entire Bayelsa State are still without power supply.
“Our engineers led by the General Manager Transmission, Port Harcourt Region, Engr Emmanuel Akpa, accompanied by men from the DSS have inspected the site of the vandalised towers. Plans are ongoing to mobilise a contractor on an emergency basis to reconstruct the collapsed towers,” the statement explained.
TCN recalled an incident on June 16, 2024, whereby an individual was caught vandalising tower T238 along the Owerri/Ahoada 132kV double circuit transmission lines, and an earlier act of vandalism on June 10, 2024 at the Ahoada Transmission Substation.
Pledging continued collaboration with security operatives and host communities including the DSS and the Civil Defence Corps to combat the menace, TCN is urged the public to help in the ongoing fight against the vandalism of power infrastructure nationwide.
“Meanwhile, we are interfacing with stakeholders including security operatives in Yenagoa to put in place other initiatives geared towards helping TCN to curtail the menace within the state.
As we continue to work towards a robust grid, it is pertinent to note that a nation’s power sector cannot grow efficiently if funds intended for infrastructural expansion are repeatedly used to replace vandalised equipment,” TCN cautioned.